U.S. patent application number 12/646576 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-24 for method and device for programming a cordless handpiece for root canal treatment.
This patent application is currently assigned to W&H Dentalwerk Burmoos GmbH. Invention is credited to Gerald Helfenbein, Stefan Putz, Rainer Schrock.
Application Number | 20100161955 12/646576 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40636989 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100161955 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Helfenbein; Gerald ; et
al. |
June 24, 2010 |
METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PROGRAMMING A CORDLESS HANDPIECE FOR ROOT
CANAL TREATMENT
Abstract
A method and device for programming a cordless handpiece used
for root canal treatment and having a first memory and a tool
holder for a treatment tool are described. The method includes
providing a first data volume having a plurality of data sets in a
second memory separate from the first memory, each of the data sets
comprising at least one parameter assigned to the cordless
handpiece and/or to the operable tool, selecting at least some of
the data sets from the first data volume in the second memory,
transmitting the selected data sets from the second memory to the
first memory of the handpiece, and selecting a data set from the
updated first memory for operation of the handpiece.
Inventors: |
Helfenbein; Gerald;
(Gilgenberg, AT) ; Putz; Stefan; (Oberndorf,
AT) ; Schrock; Rainer; (Burmoos, AT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KLARQUIST SPARKMAN, LLP
121 SW SALMON STREET, SUITE 1600
PORTLAND
OR
97204
US
|
Assignee: |
W&H Dentalwerk Burmoos
GmbH
|
Family ID: |
40636989 |
Appl. No.: |
12/646576 |
Filed: |
December 23, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
713/100 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G05B 19/182 20130101;
G05B 19/40938 20130101; A61C 5/40 20170201; G05B 2219/45167
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
713/100 |
International
Class: |
G06F 1/24 20060101
G06F001/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 24, 2008 |
EP |
08022455 |
Claims
1. A method for programming a cordless handpiece used for root
canal treatment and having a first memory and a tool holder for a
treatment tool, comprising: providing a first data volume having a
plurality of data sets in a second memory separate from the first
memory, each of the data sets in the second memory comprising at
least one parameter assigned to the cordless handpiece and/or to
the treatment tool, selecting at least some of the data sets from
the first data volume in the second memory, transmitting the
selected data sets from the second memory to the first memory to
update the first memory, and selecting a data set from the updated
first memory for operation of the handpiece.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data sets are
transmitted from the second memory to the first memory of the
handpiece by a wired connection.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data sets are
transmitted from the second memory to the first memory of the
handpiece by a wired connection comprising electrical contacts.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data sets are
transmitted wirelessly from the second memory to the first memory
of the handpiece.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data sets are
transmitted wirelessly from the second memory to the first memory
of the handpiece by at least one of a radio, radio frequency,
infrared, inductive or capacitive data transmission.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second memory is
updatable with data sets from a third memory.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the
first memory and the second memory comprises a memory card.
8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the second memory is
updatable with data sets from a third memory by a wired connection
between the second memory and the third memory.
9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the second memory is
updatable with data sets from a third memory by a wireless
connection between the second memory and the third memory.
10. The method according to claim 1, wherein selecting at least
some of the first data sets comprises actuating at least one
control element, the at least one control element being positioned
on the handpiece, on a base station and/or on a memory element.
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the
data sets of the first data volume includes at least one of a tool
rotational speed and a tool torque.
12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data sets of the
first data volume include parameters for the handpiece.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the parameters for
the handpiece include at least one autofunction parameter selected
from a group comprising autoreverse, autostop and autoforward
parameters.
14. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the data sets
of the first data volume comprises a tool name associated with a
respective tool.
15. The method according to claim 1, wherein selecting a data set
from the updated first memory comprises manually selecting the data
set from the updated first memory.
16. The method according to claim 1, wherein selecting a data set
from the updated first memory comprises automatically selecting the
data set with automatic tool identification using at least one
radiofrequency waves, RFID, barcode scanning and at least one
sensor.
17. The method according to claims 1, wherein the second memory is
associated with a base station.
18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second memory
comprises a portable memory element.
19. A device for programming a cordless handpiece used for root
canal treatment, the handpiece having a first memory and a tool
holder for a treatment tool, the device comprising: a second memory
separate from the first memory of the handpiece, the second memory
having a first data volume comprising a plurality of data sets,
each of the data sets comprising at least one parameter assigned to
the cordless handpiece and/or the operable tool, at least one
control element operable to select a partial data volume comprising
one or more data sets from the first data volume and operable to
cause the selected data sets to be transmitted from the second
memory to the first memory of the handpiece to update the first
memory, thereby allowing operation of the handpiece according to
one of the data sets in the updated first memory.
20. The device according to claim 19, wherein the second memory
comprises electrical contacts for establishing a wired connection,
and the second memory is operable to cause the selected data sets
to be transmitted from the second memory to the first memory via
the wired connection.
21. The device according to claim 19, wherein the second memory is
operable to cause the selected data sets to be transmitted
wirelessly from the second memory to the first memory.
22. The device according to claim 19, further comprising a third
memory, and wherein the third memory is operable to update the
second memory with updated data sets.
23. The device according to claim 19, further comprising a control
element operable to selecting a data set from the updated first
memory for operation of the handpiece.
24. The device according to claim 19, further comprising a tool
identification circuit operable to identify a tool installed in the
tool holder, wherein the identification circuit automatically
selects a data set from the updated first memory based on an
identification of the installed tool by the identification circuit.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority from pending
European Patent Application No. 08022455 filed Dec. 24, 2008, which
is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] This application relates to a method and a device for
programming a cordless medical or dental handpiece for root canal
treatment.
[0004] 2. Description of Prior Art
[0005] Conventional cordless devices for root canal treatment have
at least one cordless handpiece and a charger. The cordless
handpiece is equipped with a drive motor and a battery for
supplying power to the motor, in addition to a tool holder for a
treatment tool. A measurement circuit for measuring the root canal
length and/or the load applied to the tool is preferably also
provided in the handpiece. In measuring the root canal length, the
treatment tool retained in a tool holder is used as an electrode
and is electrically connected to the root canal length measuring
circuit via a contact piece provided in the head of the handpiece
or externally on the handpiece. If the control arrangement of the
measurement circuit indicates that the tool has reached a target
position in a root canal or that a predefined torque has been
exceeded, it automatically stops the tool or automatically rotates
it in the opposite direction. Because of the anatomy of the root
canal to be treated, a plurality of different tools, in particular
files of different diameters and tool properties, e.g., breaking
strengths, must be used to prepare a root canal. These tools thus
differ significantly with regard to their parameters to be set,
e.g., the maximum allowed rotational speed or torque.
[0006] Such a medical or dental device, and the method for
adjusting the cordless handpiece with the parameters of the
treatment tool for root canal treatment are known from DE 19520765
B4.
[0007] The device for root canal treatment known from the prior art
having at least one cordless handpiece and one charger has a
plurality of adjusting elements for adjusting the handpiece to the
respective parameters of the tool being used. The different
adjusting elements, in particular for adjusting the rotational
speed, the maximum allowed torque and the autofunction parameters,
e.g., autostop or autoreverse, may be provided on both the cordless
handpiece and the charger. The user may thus adjust his handpiece
to the parameters of the tool being used by means of the plurality
of adjusting elements.
[0008] One disadvantage of this prior art approach has proven to be
the manual adjustment of the individual tool and handpiece
parameters by means of the plurality of adjusting elements on the
handpiece or on the charger.
[0009] Operation of the cordless device for root canal treatment is
complex and time-consuming due to the numerous tool parameters,
e.g., the maximum rotational speed, the maximum torque or the
numerous handpiece parameters, e.g., the autofunction parameters
(such as autostop or autoreverse, in which the tool automatically
rotates in the opposite direction or stops when the tool has
reached a certain position in the root canal or when a certain load
is applied to the tool). Due to the number of parameters, each time
a tool is changed, the user must adjust the handpiece to comply
with the new tool and handpiece parameters. To do so, the user must
operate the numerous adjusting elements on the handpiece and/or on
the charger.
[0010] In addition, the device known in the prior art for root
canal treatment entails the risk of possible error sources. Due to
the numerous parameters to be adjusted, there is the risk that the
user might set possible values incorrectly, resulting in
complications in treatment of the root canal, e.g., breakage of the
file in the root canal because the torque limits for the tool being
used are set too high.
SUMMARY
[0011] Described below are embodiments of a method and a device for
programming a cordless handpiece for root canal treatment that will
make it possible to avoid or at least reduce the disadvantages of
the prior art, and to program a cordless handpiece easily and with
the exclusion of possible error sources.
[0012] According to one exemplary embodiment of a method for
programming a cordless handpiece used for root canal treatment,
having a first memory and a tool holder for a treatment tool, the
handpiece is programmed by providing a first data volume having a
plurality of data sets in a second memory, each of the data sets
comprising at least one parameter assigned to the cordless
handpiece and/or the treatment tool to be operated, selecting at
least some of the data sets from the first data volume in the
second memory, transmitting the selected data sets from the second
memory to the first memory of the handpiece and selecting, manually
or automatically, a data set from the updated first memory for
operation of the handpiece.
[0013] The second memory is separate from the first memory of the
handpiece. The second memory may be in a base station (which can be
designed as a charger for the battery operated handpiece), or
configured as a separate memory element.
[0014] Each of the data sets may comprise at least one tool
parameter for a tool, such as for a dental file used to treat a
root canal, and/or a handpiece parameter. A designation, such as a
name of each respective file, can be assigned to each data set. The
user can preselect one or more desired files, for example, the
files commonly used by the user, from a library provided in the
second memory, which may contain, e.g., all of the data sets, such
as data sets of all the files available on the market. The user may
then make his preselection of data sets from the library, such as
by using at least one control element, to which end he selects the
data sets according to which files are desired, which may be which
files he uses especially often or which files he needs for the next
treatment. Then, a data volume, which may be a partial data volume
comprising at least one data set, or a total data volume, is
transferred to the memory of the handpiece. This is done by
establishing a connection between the handpiece with the first
memory and the second memory, or by connecting only the first
memory itself. The first memory may be configured as a memory card
having contacts, or as any other suitable memory element. Then,
e.g., using at least one control element, the user can select the
appropriate data set, e.g., the name of the file, which is
used.
[0015] The at least one control element for selection of the
partial data volume or a data set can be configured as a
pushbutton, potentiometer, joystick, proximity sensor, touchscreen
display or other element for selecting from among a plurality of
parameters. In one embodiment, the at least one control element
preferably has multiple functions for menu guidance in the file
library, e.g., "left," "right," "up" and "down" functions as well
as an actuation function, such as "ok." In addition, further
control elements may be provided on the handpiece or on the base
station for parameters including both the tool and the handpiece,
e.g., an on/off switch for the root canal length measurement
circuit or a torque reducing switch for difficult anatomy, reducing
all set torques by 5% to 20%.
[0016] To ensure a complete first data volume for all the files
available on the market, the first data volume must be updated
regularly to include all new files and their parameters as a data
set. This is made possible by transmission of the existing data
sets and the new data sets, or only the new data sets, from a third
memory to the second memory. To do so, the third memory, which can
be configured as a memory card, USB stick, Smart Media card, memory
stick, multimedia card or Secure Digital memory card (SD card or
mini-SD card), is connected to the second memory via a suitable
interface and the data sets are transmitted. In another embodiment,
data may also be transmitted by wireless data transmission (e.g.,
via radiofrequency, infrared, inductive or capacitive data
transmissions) from the third memory to the second memory.
[0017] As an alternative to storage of the first data volume in a
second memory, such as in a base station, the first data volume may
also remain in the third memory, which thus serves to update the
first data volume. The handpiece is thus programmed directly by
transmission of the appropriate data sets from the third memory, in
particular from a memory card. The total data volume then remains
in the third memory.
[0018] Selection of the partial data volume, i.e., of one or more
of the data sets, is made by at least one control element, which is
arranged on or connected to the handpiece itself, the second memory
or the third memory. The user thus programs his handpiece with only
the data sets relevant for him.
[0019] The selection of a data set from the updated first memory
may be made manually by the user via at least on control element or
automatically. Automatic selection can be accomplished with a tool
identification circuit, which may use one or more of:
radiofrequency waves (RFID), a barcode on the tool and a reader on
the handpiece, at least one sensor on the handpiece and
identification on the basis of a magnetic field generated, and
determination of the tool material, the material thickness or the
material hardness. In this embodiment, the user need only make a
preselection of the dental tools (i.e., files in this example)
available for use. All additional steps in programming the
handpiece are then performed automatically.
[0020] The present method and device for programming a cordless
handpiece provide a number of significant advantages. Rapid and
simple operation for the user is ensured by providing a first data
volume having a plurality of data sets appropriate for each tool
and handpiece that may be used. It is no longer necessary to
manually set each parameter for the tool and/or the handpiece
before operation of each operation tool on the handpiece or on a
base station. This yields time savings for the user in programming
the presettings of the tool and the handpiece as well as minimizing
the control elements for adjusting the various parameters.
[0021] In addition, possible error sources are at least minimized
if not entirely prevented by the present method and device on the
basis of finished data sets and data sets coordinated with the tool
and handpiece. Through manual or automatic selection of finished
data sets on the handpiece, it is impossible for the user to set
wrong parameters for a tool, e.g., the maximum allowed rotational
speed or torque.
[0022] Another advantage is the possibility of selecting a partial
data volume from a first data volume for programming the handpiece.
A comprehensive preselection on the handpiece is ensured by
transmitting just a partial data volume, in particular the data
sets of the files being used by the user. In addition, a complete
data volume is available to the user for preferably all the files
obtainable on the market.
[0023] The first data volume in the second memory is guaranteed to
be up-to-date by another memory, in particular a memory card. By
loading the second memory by means of an additional memory, the
data volume may be updated and completed constantly with new data
sets.
[0024] Within the scope of this application, it is understandable
that the present method and device for programming a handpiece are
not limited to the handpieces for root canal treatment specified in
the description. Instead, additional handpieces may be programmed
for general treatment in the medical field, in particular in the
dental field.
[0025] These and other embodiments are explained in greater detail
below on the basis of exemplary embodiments and in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 shows a cordless handpiece for root canal treatment
having a first memory comprising an instrument part and a main
part;
[0027] FIG. 2 shows a base station having a second memory for
receiving the cordless handpiece, in particular for supplying power
to the handpiece;
[0028] FIG. 3 shows an additional memory for loading the memory in
the base station and/or the memory in the handpiece.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] FIG. 1 shows a cordless handpiece 1, preferably for root
canal treatment. The handpiece 1 consists of an instrument part 4
and a main part 5. The main part 5 forms the drive unit for the
cordless handpiece 1. In addition to the drive motor with an output
shaft for coupling the instrument part 4, a battery (not shown),
which is used to supply electric power to the motor, is provided in
the handpiece. For charging the battery, charging contacts 8 are
provided on the main part 5. In addition, a control and a first
memory 20 are arranged in the main part 5 for storing a partial
data volume transmissible to the handpiece 1. A data set is
selected from the partial data volume by at least one control
element 6 and a display 7. The handpiece also has a data receiving
unit for transmitting a partial data volume from the base station 2
or from an additional memory 3 to the handpiece 1. This interface
is preferably designed as a wired interface via the charging
contacts 8 or via additional electric contacts (not shown). The
instrument part 4 serves to transmit the drive movement from the
output shaft of the drive motor to the tool.
[0030] FIG. 2 shows a base station 2 corresponding to the cordless
handpiece 1. The base station 2 is preferably designed as a charger
for the cordless handpiece 1. A charging circuit for charging the
battery in the handpiece 1 is provided in the base station 2. To
this end, the handpiece 1 is connected to the base station 2, e.g.,
by inserting the handpiece 1 in a receptacle 9. In addition, a
control and a second memory 22 are also provided on the base
station 2. This second memory 22 serves to provide the first data
volume. By means of the at least one control element 10 as well as
the display 11 on the base station, the user may select a partial
data volume to be transmitted to the handpiece 1. In addition to
the control element 10, other control elements 12 may also be
arranged on the base station 2 for setting additional functions of
the tool and handpiece. For transmission of a partial data volume
from an external memory, such as a third memory 3 (described below)
to the base station 2 (second memory 22), and from the base station
2 (second memory 22) to the handpiece, the base station 2 has a
data receiving and transmitting unit (not shown). The base station
2 can include an interface between the third memory 3 and the base
station 2, such as one configured for a wired connection, in
particular a receptacle for a memory card, a port for a
standardized or proprietary connector (e.g., a USB port) or another
form of physical interface providing a wired connection.
[0031] FIG. 3 shows an example of the third memory 3, which as
illustrated is embodied as a portable memory element 24 (e.g., a
USB stick). Alternatively, the third memory 3 could be embodied as,
e.g., a Smart Media card, memory stick, multimedia card or Secure
Digital memory card (SD card or mini-SD card). The third memory 3
serves to transmit data sets to the base station 2 or directly to
the handpiece 1, if the handpiece is provided with a suitable
interface for connection to the third memory 3.
[0032] For embodiments in which there is no second memory in the
base station, the second memory can be embodied as a portable
memory element (such as shown in FIG. 3.
[0033] This application is not limited to the exemplary embodiments
described herein. Within the scope of the invention, it is of
course self-evident that data may be transmitted from the base
station 2 to the handpiece 1 or from the additional, in particular
third, memory 3 to the base station 2 or directly to the handpiece
1 by wireless data transmission. To this end, the transmission is
preferably accomplished by means of radiofrequency waves, infrared,
wireless or inductive or capacitive data transmission.
* * * * *